CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

1. New ACIP Hepatitis B Recommendations
2. Spanish Language Immunization Video

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10/27/97

ACIP EXPANDS HEPATITIS B VACCINATION RECOMMENDATIONS TO INCLUDE
ALL CHILDREN 0 THROUGH 18 YEARS OF AGE. VFC (VACCINES FOR CHILDREN) COVERAGE FOR THE ADDITIONAL AGE GROUPS WILL BEGIN MARCH 1, 1998

On October 23, 1997, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to expand the hepatitis B recommendation to include all children ages 0 through 18 years of age. Prior to this vote, only certain age cohorts and certain additional at-risk children were recommended for vaccination against the hepatitis B virus. The ACIP also voted to expand the use of VFC hepatitis B vaccine to include all VFC-eligible children ages 0 through 18. This expanded use of VFC vaccine will take effect March 1, 1998.

These two votes are great news for health care professionals who have struggled to remember whom they should vaccinate and who is eligible for free vaccine under the VFC program.

The ACIP still recommends routine hepatitis B vaccination along with the other infant immunizations beginning at birth or by two months of age. In addition, a child's vaccination status should be checked at the 11-12 year old visit, and if the child has not been vaccinated against the hepatitis B virus, the series should be started. Children who were not vaccinated in infancy, however, may now be vaccinated at any time before the 11-12 year old visit, or if they are older than 11-12 years of age, at any time thereafter. Efforts should be made to vaccinate adolescents at any opportunity before they reach the age of 19.

For more information, contact the hepatitis B coordinator at your state health department. A list of coordinators is available at the Immunization Action Coalition & Hepatitis B Coalition web site.

11/13/97

NEW SPANISH LANGUAGE IMMUNIZATION VIDEO AVAILABLE!

"Vacunacion: Un gesto de amor" (Vaccination: A gesture of love) (National Council of La Raza, 1997, 6min). This video stresses the importance of immunization for both children and adults and provides information on vaccine-preventable diseases, the immunization record, and also includes parent interviews.

Developed in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization, it is narrated by Maria Elena Salinas of UNIVISION. FREE. Contact Stepanie Avila at NCLR at 202-776-1704.